The One Planet Living Festival 2024 was on the Market Place today. There is also an election and the Reform UK local candidate was there. He had a discussion about The Climate Emergency with Tim, the alternative town crier.
The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers performed. Roger Cox the current Mayor of Ock Street will be standing down this year, and the vote for the new Mayor will be next Saturday, the 22nd of June. There will be a lot more Morris Dancing then as well as the Abingdon Passion Play and the Abingdon River Litter Pick.
The day’s events were enlivened by music, poetry, and a fashion show organised by Dr Diane Regisford: Racial Equity Social Sculptress , Politician , ARTiviste , Healer , Poet , Author and Evocative Enquirer. She is seen here with Councillor Alison Rooke the new chairman of Oxfordshire County Council. Alison has been Mayor, Chair of the District Council, and now Chair of the County Council.
There was also a lot of dancing to music which had an Afro Caribbean sound.
Every now and then some mysterious women in red would smoke in, waving their arms.
Down in the museum basement (the Climate Emergency Centre), Abingdon Muslims were serving Asian Street food for a donation for charity. I think they are raising funds for a base of their own in Abingdon.
There was a presentation by Philippa Hoy from the charity Bioregional, the organisation behind One Planet Living. One Planet Living is where we can live happily within the Earth’s resources.
A lot was happening. It was lively fun and crazy at times. There were also businesses with sustainable products such as Tribe (Zero-Waste) from Faringdon, who deliver to Abingdon.
Make Music Day is on Friday June 21st in Abingdon, and two of the performers also performed at the One Planet Living Festival 2024.
The Red Rebels wear red to symbolise the blood of all life which unifies us all. They move in unity and act in unity.
With their slow, spacious dance of empathy they hold space and give hope, inviting visions of regeneration.
A fantastic day in Abingdon yesterday a snapshot of diversity at its best on a typical summers day in the Uk, torrential rain followed by blissful sunshine. To see so many groups blending together was food for my soul, children chalking the stone slabs ‘ This is where the fun is’, dancing and music of all descriptions, serious chess games, homemade wholesome food, networking for information and debate for solutuons, beanbags and blakets laid out for the weary. The non stop entertainment kept us busy while the vibrant displays of colours from the stalls, outfits and fabrics stimulated the oarty atmosphere. As a support worker for young adults with Special Educational Needs it was great to see inclusion with purpose.
Thank you to Michelle Charlesworth of One Planet Abingdon, Dianne Regisford, Green Party for all their hard work and all the volunteers and participants who pulled it out the bag to make this event happen . I wish Abingdon can be like this every day please. 👏💝🙏🌳
Who or what is an alternative town crier?
I am.
Great thanks for that comprehensive answer, really clears things up
Who:
I am a member of the Guild of Abingdon Town Criers but there are limitations about what can be cried and where cries can take place in that capacity.
What:
To release myself from these limitations and yet still use my experience and skill set I sometimes adopt a role as Town Frier. My costume is based on the rag robes used in traditional morris and mummers plays. The bright colours at the bottom represent flames changing to greys further up intended to represent smoke. In this role I support environmental actions and events because the planet is dear to my heart and I cannot give that support as a Town Crier without some busy body lobbing all the toys out of their pram.